Bhagavad-gita As It Is And As It Isn't

BY MADAN MOHAN DASA

EDITORIAL, Dec 25 [2000] (VNN) — Please compare:

Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 1972 authorized Macmillan version

Chapter 8, Text 28 purport, final paragraph, first sentence:

"One should try to understand the Seventh and Eighth Chapters of the Gita not by scholarship or mental speculation, but by hearing them in association with pure devotees."

to

Bhagavad-gita As It Is 1983 "Revised and Enlarged"

version

Chapter 8, Text 28 purport, final paragraph, first sentence:

"One who has a little faith in Bhagavad-gita should learn Bhagavad-gita from a devotee, because in the beginning of the Fourth Chapter it is clearly stated that Bhagavad-gita can be understood only by devotees; no one else can perfectly understand the purpose of Bhagavad-gita."

Are these changes significant? If any aspiring sadhaka has been discouraged from or deprived of taking the direct shelter of pure devotees, I would think so.

Please send any comments or responses to Madan Mohan dasa at:

106650.1421@compuserve.com

[end]

Letter PAMHO:3901217 (64 lines)

From: Jayadvaita Swami

Date: 17-Jan-01 07:31

To: editorial@vnn.org (sent: 17-Jan-01 07:37)

To: 106650.1421@compuserve.com (sent: 17-Jan-01 07:37)

Cc: VNN submissions <krparama@vnn.org> (sent: 17-Jan-01 07:37)

Cc: CHAKRA submissions <news@chakra.org> (sent: 17-Jan-01 07:37)

Scc: Gita Revisions Explained [71]

Attached: Gita8-28.zip (4983 bytes) "Gita 8.28 purports compared"

Subject: Bhagavad-gita As It Is

------------------------------------------------------------

Mayapur

Dear Madan Mohan Prabhu,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Someone has forwarded to me a VNN editorial (Dec 25) in which you write:

> Please compare:

>

> Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 1972 authorized Macmillan version

>

> Chapter 8, Text 28 purport, final paragraph, first sentence:

>

> "One should try to understand the Seventh and Eighth Chapters of

> the Gita not by scholarship or mental speculation, but by hearing

> them in association with pure devotees."

>

> to

>

> Bhagavad-gita As It Is 1983 "Revised and Enlarged"

> version

>

> Chapter 8, Text 28 purport, final paragraph, first sentence:

>

> "One who has a little faith in Bhagavad-gita should learn

> Bhagavad-gita from a devotee, because in the beginning of the

> Fourth Chapter it is clearly stated that Bhagavad-gita can be

> understood only by devotees; no one else can perfectly understand

> the purpose of Bhagavad-gita."

>

> Are these changes significant? If any aspiring sadhaka has been

> discouraged from or deprived of taking the direct shelter of pure

> devotees, I would think so.

>

> Please send any comments or responses to Madan Mohan dasa. . .

These changes *are* significant. What they signify is that the text of the Second Edition more closely matches Srila Prabhupada's original words.

Our main purpose in the Second Edition was to offer the reader, more closely than in the First, Srila Prabhupada's actual text. In the original manuscript for the purport in question, the words "pure devotees" never appear.

Since the words that now appear in "Bhagavad-gita As It Is" are closer to the original words of the author, I believe we can expect all readers to benefit, including aspiring sadhakas.

Thank you. Hare Krsna.

Hoping this finds you in good health,

Your servant,

Jayadvaita Swami

PS: I attach a comparison of the First Edition, the Second Edition, and the original transcription. Hare Krsna.

(Text PAMHO:3901217) ---------------------------------------

Bhagavad-gita As It Is

Chapter 8, Text 28, purport (end)

Legend:

Regular text = text appearing in both the First and Second Editions

Bold text = unique to the Second Edition

Strikethrough text = deleted in the Second Edition

Published Versions Original Transcription

The words idam viditva indicate that one should understand the instructions given by Sri Krsna in this chapter and the Seventh and eighth Chapters of the Bhagavad-gita. One should try to understand these chapters not by scholarship or mental speculation but by hearing them in association with pure devotees. Chapters Six Seven through Twelve are the essence of the Bhagavad-gita. The first six and the last six chapters are like coverings for the middle six chapters, which are especially protected by the Lord. If one is fortunate enough to understand the Bhagavad-gita—especially these middle six chapters—in the association of devotees, then his life at once becomes glorified beyond all penances, sacrifices, charities, speculations, etc., for one can achieve all the results of these activities simply by Krsna consciousness. One who has a little faith in Bhagavad-gita should hear the learn Bhagavad-gita from the a devotee, because in the beginning of the Fourth Chapter it is stated clearly that the Bhagavad-gita can only be perfectly understood only by devotees; no one else can perfectly understand the purpose of Bhagavad-gita. Hearing One should therefore learn the Bhagavad-gita from a devotees of Krsna, not from mental speculators. This is called a sign of faith. Through When one searches for a devotee and finally gets a devotee’s association one actually begins to study and understand Bhagavad-gita. By advancement in the association of the devotees one is placed in devotional service, and by this service dispels all one’s misgivings about Krsna, or God, and Krsna’s activities, form, pastimes, name and other features. etc., become clear, and all After these misgivings are dispelled. have been perfectly cleared away, one becomes fixed in Then once doubts are removed one’s study of the Gita becomes extremely pleasurable, and one develops a taste and. Then one relishes the study of Bhagavad-gita and attains the state of feeling always for Krsna consciousness. In the advanced stage, one falls completely in love with Krsna. and that is the beginning of the This highest perfectional stage of life which prepares enables the devotee’s transferral to be transferred to Krsna’s abode in the spiritual sky, Goloka Vrndavana, where the devotee becomes eternally happy enters into eternal happiness.

Now here the word KerumIrum beditwa by understanding the instructions given to by Sri Krsna in this chapter or combined in the 7th and 8th chps. Beditwa by understanding, and how to understand? The understanding of this chapter should be attempted in the association of devotees these two chapters of Bhagavat Gita cannot be understood from the academic scholars or the mental speculators . They should be especially, the 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 111th 12th these 6 chapters are the essence of Bhagavat Gita, There are 18 chaps. The first 6 chaps. and the last 6 chaps. are considered as covering of the middle six chaps. therefore the middle 6 chps are especially protected by the Lord . So if one is fortunate to understand Bhagavat Gita in the association of devotees these 6 chapters -- his life at once becomes glorified. and that glorified life surpasses all the above mentioned penances, sacrifices chairities and everything . All the results recommended in those activities can be achieved simply by Krsna consciousness. Krsna consciousness process is one who has got a little faith in this Bhagavat Gita he should learn Bhagavat Gita from the devotee only because in the beginning of the 4th chapter it is stated clearly that Bhagavat Gita can be understood simply by the devotees, nobody can understand perfectly what is the purpose of Bhagavat Gita. Therefore one should take chance of learning Bhagavt Gita from a devotee of Krsna. Not from mental speculators . This is called faith. Then, when he is in search of such a devotee and fortunatley gets the association of such devotee he actually begins to study and understand Bhagavat Gita. By advancement of association of the devotee one is placed into the devotional service and by performance of those devotional service , all his misgivings about Krsna or God His activities, His Form, His Pastimes, His Name, everything becomes clear. And after perfect clearance of these misgivings one becomes fixed up in the study . And by being fixed up in that way, he relishes the study of Bhagavat Gita and then he acquires his state of being of feeling always Krsna consciousness And after this feeling of Krsna consciousness in advanced stage he becomes completely in love with Krsna and that is the highest perfectional stage of life, which makes the devotee being transfereed to the Krsna Abode in the spiritual sky, Goloka Vrindaban and then he become perpetually eternally happy .